Explosive lead plug

ABSTRACT

A metal fuse extension with an explosive-filled channel passing through it. The channel is small on one end and large on the other end. The small end is adjacent a fuse and the large end is adjacent a burster charge. Upon detonation of the explosive material in the channel, the small end is sealed closed due to metal flow, thus preventing a backfire of the burster charge through the small end.

United States Patent 11 1 Parsons 1 1 Jan. 30, 1973 s41 EXPLOSIVE LEAD PLUG 3,260,202 7/1966 Bryla ..102/27 3,326,l27 6 I967 S h' l ..l02 27 1 lnvemo" Kenneth Parsons, clumbla 3,572,246 311971 1121:3321 "102427 Heights, Minn. [73] Assignee: The United States of America as Q 'T F Pendegrass represented by the Secretary of the "amey et Navy 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 1971 A metal fuse extension with an explosive-filled chan- [21] Appl. No.: 113,866 nel passing through it. The channel is small on one end and large on the other end. The small end is adjacent a fuse and the large end is adjacent a burster U.S. ..102/70, charge p detonation of the explosive material in [51] IIBLCI ..F42b 3/10 the channel, the Sma" end is sealed closed due to Fleld of Search 1 metal flow, thus preventing a backfire of the burster charge through the small end. [56] References Cited 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,238,876 3/1966 Allen ..l02/70 PATENTED JAN 30 I975 I/[III/Il/lIIIIII/lIl/l/l [Ill/ 1 l I I r I I I I I l1 FIG. I.

KENNETH C. PARSONS BY ROY MILLER ATTORNEY.

EXPLOSIVE LEAD PLUG GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the government of the United 'States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common practice to drop from aircraft, canisters of fuel which are dispersed and detonated adjacent the ground by an explosive device. Intended targets may be personnel, parked aircraft, vehicles, buildings and mined land areas. A device of this type, sometimes referred to as a FAS (fuel-air explosive) canister, is disclosed in copending U.S. patent application by William A. Gey, Ser. No. 173,077, filed Feb. 13, 1962. In said application a central burster tube is employed to disperse the surrounding liquid fuel contained within the canister.

It is desired that the liquid fuel disperse into a large fuel-air cloud, Le. a cloud formed of a mixture of fuel and air, of a pancake configuration. For optimum results, it is essential that a proper fuel-air mixture result prior to detonation.

Problems have resulted where the central burster tube backfires, causing a premature detonation or a burning of the fuel.

The present invention prevents backfire of the central burster tube by forming an extension of the fuse used to detonate the central burster tube. After the ignition passes from the fuse, through the extension and into the burster tube, the extension seals itself at the fuse end due to metal flow, thus preventing a backfire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows the invention and its environment in cross-section.

FIG. 2 shows the invention in perspective.

FIG. 3 shows in cross-section the invention after detonation.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a fuel-air explosive device 10. A canister 12 contains a liquid fuel supply 14 surrounding a central burster charge 16. The burster charge is connected to a fuse 18 through a bronze or steel fuse extension 20.

The fuse extension fits snugly in a round hole in the canister base 22. The upper end of the fuse extension 20 is contiguous to the burster charge 16, while the lower end of the extension is contiguous to the fuse 18.

The fuse extension is tubular and flat on each end. A channel 24 extends from one end to the other. The channel is filled with an explosive material 26.

OPERATION As the device 10 approaches the ground, a signal causes the fuse to ignite. The fuse, in turn, causes the fuse extension explosive material 26 to detonate, thereby detonating the burster charge 16. The detonation of the extension explosive material 26 also causes the extension to expand radially, thereby wedging it in place before it can be forced out by the detonation of the burster charge More importantly, thf detonatitgn eria causes e of the fuse extension explosive ma metal of the extension to flow in such a manner as to seal the lower end of the extension as seen in FIG. 3. This prevents a backfire from the burster charge, thereby preventing a burning or premature detonation of the fuel-air cloud.

What is claimed is:

1. In an explosive device including a burster charge and a fuse, fuse extension means situated between and contiguous said charge and said fuse;

said extension means comprising:

a tubular body of flowable metal having a channel extending therethrough and communicating said charge with said fuse;

explosive material filling said channel;

a portion of said channel near the middle of said channel being conical;

the larger end of said channel being in contact with said charge;

the smaller end of said channel being in contact with said fuse;

whereby detonation of said explosive material causes said flowable metal to flow in such a manner as to seal said channel.

2. A fuse extension as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body comprises bronze. 

1. In an explosive device including a burster charge and a fuse, fuse extension means situated between and contiguous said charge and said fuse; said extension means comprising: a tubular body of flowable metal having a channel extending therethrough and communicating said charge with said fuse; explosive material filling said channel; a portion of said channel near the middle of said channel being conical; the larger end of said channel being in contact with said charge; the smaller end of said channel being in contact with said fuse; whereby detonation of said explosive material causes said flowable metal to flow in such a manner as to seal said channel.
 1. In an explosive device including a burster charge and a fuse, fuse extension means situated between and contiguous said charge and said fuse; said extension means comprising: a tubular body of flowable metal having a channel extending therethrough and communicating said charge with said fuse; explosive material filling said channel; a portion of said channel near the middle of said channel being conical; the larger end of said channel being in contact with said charge; the smaller end of said channel being in contact with said fuse; whereby detonation of said explosive material causes said flowable metal to flow in such a manner as to seal said channel. 